Early on Thursday, September 12, 2024, the crew of Polaris Dawn, consisting of four civilians, made history as the first group of non-government astronauts to conduct a spacewalk. The mission, hosted by SpaceX, was broadcast live and began at 6:12 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).
A Bold Spacewalk
The spacewalk, also known as an extravehicular activity (EVA), started with the depressurization of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, exposing the crew to the vacuum of space. This was a crucial achievement for the Polaris Dawn mission, which had already set records by traveling further into space than any crew since the conclusion of NASA’s Apollo program over 50 years ago.
The crew included Jared Isaacman, CEO of Shift4 Payments and financier of the Polaris Dawn mission; his close friend and former USAF pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet; and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. The team had been preparing for the spacewalk since their launch at 5:23 a.m. ET on Tuesday, going through a slow “pre-breathe” process designed to remove nitrogen from their blood, preventing dangerous bubbles from forming in the vacuum of space.
Challenges and Achievements
Jared Isaacman was the first to exit the capsule just before 7 a.m., climbing a specially designed SpaceX mobility aid called “skywalker” to take in the breathtaking views of the cosmic void. “Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here — looks like a perfect world,” Isaacman remarked.
Only Gillis and Isaacman exited the capsule, spending a total of about 20 minutes in space. The new EVA suits, designed and developed by SpaceX in just two and a half years, were tested during the spacewalk. Unlike the traditional bulky white suits used in government spacewalks, these new suits aim to provide more mobility, functioning more like a suit rather than the heavy, restrictive suits used in the past.
Views and the Future of Commercial Space Missions
While only Isaacman and Gillis exited the capsule, the cabin’s windows offered incredible views for the entire crew, allowing them to observe Earth below and frequent sunrises and sunsets — every 106 minutes. Menon shared her impressions: “It is honestly one of my favorite views. The sun peaks over the horizon, and the whole world just lights up — or the whole world goes to sleep. And you just get to witness this hour after hour, and it’s so beautiful. Our Earth is so beautiful.”
The prestigious event received congratulations, including from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Congratulations to @PolarisProgram and @SpaceX on the first commercial spacewalk in history! Today’s success represents a giant leap forward for the commercial space industry and NASA’s long-term goal to build a vibrant U.S. space economy.”
What’s Next?
Now that the spacewalk has concluded, the Polaris Dawn crew will spend a few more days in orbit, completing the remaining mission objectives. This includes working through nearly 40 experiments, such as those focused on better understanding space adaptation syndrome, a condition known to affect about half of the people who travel to orbit.
The crew also plans to demonstrate the use of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites for in-space communication. The Crew Dragon capsule is expected to return to Earth this weekend, potentially in the early hours of Sunday, wrapping up the five- or six-day mission.
This event not only marks the first commercial spacewalk in history but also represents a milestone in humanity’s pursuit of space exploration and commercialization. It’s just the beginning of an era where civilian astronauts and private companies will play a crucial role in exploring the cosmos.
source : https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/12/science/spacewalk-polaris-dawn-mission-spacex/index.html
